Oct 9, 2007 / 08:06 am
The small Christian community in the Gaza Strip has been shocked and frightened by the murder of a prominent Palestinian Christian, the Associated Press reports.
Rami Khader Ayyad, 32, was found dead with a gunshot wound in his head and numerous stab wounds in his body. Ayyad was the director of Gaza's only Christian bookstore and had been the target of death threats and an arson attack. The threats accused him of conducting missionary work, a rare activity for Gaza's Christians.
He leaves behind two children and his pregnant wife.
On Friday, Ayyad reported that he was being followed by a car with no license plates. He called his family Saturday afternoon to tell them he had been abducted but would be freed later in the evening. Police were notified, but his body was found the next morning.